Divini's Vase Microscope

This vase-shaped microscope was made by Italian designer Eustachio Divini in the mid seventeenth century. It is believed that Marcello Malpighi used a microscope similar to this in his classic studies of embryology and histology.

The vase microscope is very similar in design and functionality to Campani's microscopes that were made during the same time period. The microscope utilizes a screw threaded barrel to adjust focus and rests on a small tripod. It stood between five and eight inches tall, much shorter than its English rivals which were often as much as two feet in height.